The week that was in college football produced little in the way of actual shockers. But as is usually the case, the events on the field in Week 3 led to plenty of instant takes from professional and amateur observers alike. Naturally, some of these will prove to be overreactions.
We are back once again this Monday to try to offer some big-picture perspective in response to a bit of the buzz, much of which was generated by members of one conference in particular. Does this edition of overreactions of the week just mean more? You will have to be the judge.
Georgia is in trouble
This view for the most part isn’t being expressed by Bulldogs fans, who have after all seen this movie before. Even during Georgia’s recent run of success, the team has unexpectedly struggled against one of its early SEC opponents. But while the Bulldogs usually manage to right the ship and start looking like a top-five team again by season’s end, Saturday night’s slog at Kentucky may have displayed more red flags – or yellow ones for that matter – than usual.
The biggest concern was Georgia’s uncharacteristic inability to control the line of scrimmage on either side. The offense generated just 262 total yards, with just 102 of those on the ground, while picking up just 12 first downs. The defense was gashed for 170 rushing yards, an alarming number of which came after contact, by a Wildcats’ attack that had done next to nothing a week earlier in a much more lopsided loss to South Carolina. And oh yeah, those nine penalties costing the Bulldogs 85 yards undoubtedly irked coach Kirby Smart and his staff even more.
As we said, Georgia usually figures things out after a scare like this. But as Ringo famously said in ‘Help,’ there’s a certain amount of hurry up involved here. In two weeks, the Bulldogs head to Alabama, and their murderers’ row of a schedule also includes trips to Texas and Ole Miss and a home date with Tennessee. Suffice it to say the coming open date is going to feature some spirited practices in Athens.
HIGHS AND LOWS: Winners and losers from Week 3 in college football
MISERY INDEX: Florida State latest meltdown headlines Week 3 action
Texas has a quarterback contr…
Nope, nope, nope, don’t even go there.
Longhorns faithful got a glimpse of a very bright future thanks to Arch Manning’s electrifying performance in relief of injured starter Quinn Ewers. Fans can also be comfortable with the knowledge that the offense of the present will be in good hands should Arch be needed again.
But Ewers is the starter, and when he’s ready he will remain the starter. With Louisiana-Monroe visiting Austin this week, there’s little reason to rush Ewers back from an abdominal issue. So it’s expected to be the Manning show Saturday. But rest assured the job belongs to Ewers when he’s ready.
The SEC will fill half the playoff field
Since we’ve gone full SEC to this point, we might as well keep going. The league currently holds six of the top eight positions in the US LBM Coaches Poll, with a couple of others in the top 16 seemingly waiting in the weeds. Assuming the eventual league champion emerged from that upper tier, the rest could conceivably grab five of the seven available at-large spots.
This scenario comes with more than a few caveats, however. First and foremost, we’re less than a quarter of the way through the campaign. Secondly, the playoff committee does not use the polls as criteria. But even if that were the case, the teams currently occupying the lofty rankings are soon going to start playing each other.
Texas A&M has a quarterback controversy
Now, there might be a little more smoke with this one. Conner Weigman was scratched from the starting lineup with a shoulder injury prior to the Aggies’ must-win game at Florida, and the offense was considerably more dynamic with redshirt freshman Marcel Reed at the controls.
The offense piled up 33 points compared to 13 in the opener against Notre Dame. Reed was effective through the air and on the ground, passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 87 yards and another score.
The Gators’ issues are well-documented, of course, and other SEC squads on the Aggies’ upcoming slate could give the less-experienced Reed more to think about. But Weigman might have a harder time getting his gig back.
Memphis is a lock for the playoff
Once again, we reiterate that the polls are not the playoff rankings. But the Tigers, the lone squad from a Group of Five league currently ranked, would seem to have the inside track with a good result at Florida State in hand.
But ‘lock’ is way too strong a pronouncement to make in mid-September, especially as Memphis has not even embarked on what could be a treacherous American Athletic Conference journey. There are also a few other clubs from outside the Power Four leagues with notable results. Northern Illinois’ win at Notre Dame last week might actually be the best one once everyone is in the clubhouse. Sure, we make our projections every week, but everyone should refrain from terms like ‘lock’ in this still fledgling campaign.